Tinsel



March 18 1924.

H. HELLER TINSEL Filed Feb. 23, 1925 Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

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HUGO HELLER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

- TINSEL.

Application filed February 23, 1923. Serial No. 620,668.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, H co HELLER, a'citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented'new and useful Improvements in Tinsel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tinsel.

The tinsel to which this invention applies is particularly appropriate for decorating Christmas trees but may be used for other purposes.

Tinsel is ordinarily made by interlacing the ends or the central portion of narrow strips of very thin light metal between the convolutions of a central stem of twisted thread or light wire.

The metal is burnished to give it a lustrous surface which will reflect the light and impart brilliancy to the tinsel.

This metal tarnishes very quickly under the action of the atmosphere, and hence becomes disco'lored and loses its brilliant ap pearance.

The strips of metal are narrow and very thin and therefore. provide a comparatively small surface of engagement with the twisted members of the central stem. Heretofore these strips have been held in place entirely by friction, and even though the central stem is tightly twisted due to the polished surface and the small dimensions of the strips they easily become detached.

An object of this invention is to provide a tinsel the metal strips of which are firmly bound to the central stem.

Another object is to provide a tinsel which will not tarnish.

Another object is to provide a lustrous tinsel decorated in colors.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In accordance with this invention, a coating of transparent or translucent lacquer is applied to the tinsel by spraying, dipping or in any other suitable manner.

The lacquer forms a protective covering for the metal and prevents tarnishing thereof.

It completely envelops the central stem and cements the metallic strips thereto preventing untwisting of the stem or detachment of the strips of foil therefrom.

The lacquer may be colorless leaving the tinsel with its original metallic color or a colored lacquer may be applied thereto.

The lustrous surface reflects the light through the lacquer and the tinsel therefore retains its brilliancy.

s Fig. 1 is a view of a short section of tinsel embodying this invention.

Fig. 1.

This tinsel is formed in the usual manner by binding thin metal strips 1 between twisted strands 2 and 3 of a central stem 4.

In the embodiment illustrated, the metal strips 1 are looped about their central portion and the loops engaged between the stem 2 and the convolutions of a light wire 3 wound there-around. If desired, however, the ends of the strips may be engaged between the stem 2 and the convolutions of the wire 3.- I

The tinsel is sprayed with a colored lacquer in any suitable manner as by the spray nozzle 5.

The lacquer. forms a thin film 6 on the polished metallic surface and a compara tively thick coating 7 on the uneven surface of the central stem.

The strands of the central stem and the adjacent portions of the foil are thus cemented firmly together. 7

The central stem will therefore not become untwisted and the strips of foil will not easily become detached therefrom.

The thin film of lacquer protects the surface of the metal from moisture and the atmosphere, and prevents oxidation and tarnishing of the tinsel.

The lacquer is transparent and therefore Fig. 2is a .section on the line 22 of does not destroy the brilliancy and lustre of the metallic surface.

The colored surface adds to the attractiveness of the tinsel and permits its use in different schemes of colored decoration where the use of a tinsel having a'metallic color would not. be permissible.

The nontarnishing property of this tinsel permits it to be used the entire year in the manufacture of tinsel decorations, and allows a stock to be accumulated for the season in which it is to be used, an advantage not present in the usual tinsel having a metallic surface which, due to its rapid tarnishing, must be made up into ornaments a relatively short time in advance of them use.

Obviously the tinsel has many other uses and advantages and the invention embodied herein. may take other forms.

The invention claimed is:

l. A tinsel having a central twisted stem and a plurality of metallic strips radiating therefrom, a portion of each of said strips being cemented to the central stem.

2. A tinsel having a central stem and a plurality of lustrous metallic strips radiating therefrom, the surface of said metallic strips being covered with a colored film through which light is readily transmitted, and being firmly cemented to the central stem.

A tinsel having a central stem and a plurality of lustrous metallic strips radiating therefrom, said metallic strips having a coating of transparent lacquer applied thereto through which the light from the metallic surface is readily reflected, and being firmly cemented tothe central stem.

4. A metallic tinsel having a lustrous surface and a colored translucent coating applied thereto through which the light is reflected by said lustrous surface.

A tinsel having a central stem and aplurality of lustrous metallic strips radiating therefrom, the surface of said strips being covered with an impervious film through which light is readily transmitted.

In witness whereof, I have hereuntosubscribed my name.

HUGO HELLER. 

